Proper 9
Worship
Lectionary Worship Aids
Series V, Cycle A
First Lesson: Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67
Theme: Lifemate
Call To Worship
Not only did Isaac take Rebekah as his wife according to custom, but he also chose to love her. In a different time, in our land of freedom, we choose our partners in other ways. However, the truths of mutual respect and responsibility still hold today within this freedom.
Collect
"Will you go with this person?" "I will." We delight in the willingness of voluntary responsibility, O God. We applaud those who dare in our difficult social times to give a covenantal relationship a try. We rejoice when two persons so venture and are willing to work out a partnership of ever-deepening commitment. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Are you a matchmaker for us, God? Do you bring us together with our lifemates? When we feel external pressures or sense an interior urgency to grow a lasting relationship, give us the patience to wait, even if it takes longer than we want. We ask for wisdom to listen to and with our whole being. Be with us as part of the voice of inner wisdom we can trust, O God. In Jesus' name. Amen.
44A Hymns1
"God Send Us Men Whose Aim 'Twill Be" Tune: MELROSE OR "Judge Eternal, Throned In Splendor" Tune: RHUDDLAN
"Go, My Children, With My Blessing" Tune: AR HYD Y NOS OR "When Love Is Found" Tune: O WALY WALY
"O God, Beneath Thy Guiding Hand" Tune: DUKE STREET
Proper 9
Sunday between July 3 and July 9 inclusive
Second Lesson: Romans 7:15-25a
Theme: Freedom or License?
Call To Worship
As we enter into an attitude of worship today, let us be mindful of the laws which belong to God, the laws that are made by society, and the rules we ourselves invent when we stretch the gift of freedom too far.
Collect
Gracious God, grant us the honesty to discern which among the rules we live by are ours and which are God's. Grant us the humility to see beyond self-interest. Guide us as we practice the tenacity of stretching past ourselves. In the name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
While we pray together, the prayer of confession is still a personal prayer. Let us, then, confess to God: I do not always understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want and know is right, but I do the very thing I hate. I can will what is right, but I cannot always do it. Forgive me for taking such license with the freedom you have given me, O God. Help me to do better. Amen.
44A Hymns1
"Dear [God, Embracing][Lord And Father] Of [Humankind] [Mankind]" Tune: REST
"What A Friend We Have In Jesus" Tune: ERIE [CONVERSE]
"We Shall Overcome" Tune: WE SHALL OVERCOME
Proper 9
Sunday between July 3 and July 9 inclusive
Gospel: Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
Theme: Come To Me
Call To Worship
"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens," Jesus said, "and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Collect
No matter who we are, dear God, Jesus' invitation to come to him with the weary, burdened part of ourselves brings comfort and rest for our souls. All can come. We are grateful. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Leader: Gracious, Compassionate God, we bring you our weariness and our heavy burdens --
People: Help carry the weight, O God, of those trying to manage chronic health problems.
Leader: Help us carry the heaviness of meeting workloads and time limits without sufficient respite.
People: Help us carry the weight, O God, of raising a family and of being youths in these times.
Leader: Help us bear the burden of grief.
All: We would have your comfort and rest for our souls.
Amen.
44A Hymns
"[O Come To Me, You Weary][The Voice Of God Is Calling]" Tune: MEIRIONYDD OR "We Yearn, O [Christ][Lord], For Wholeness" Tune: PASSION CHORALE
"Stand By Me" Tune: STAND BY ME
"Sing Them Over Again To Me" Tune: WORDS OF LIFE
____________
1. On the remaining Sundays of summer, use the first verse of "Take My Life And Let It Be Consecrated" (Tune: VIENNA) as a closing response.
Theme: Lifemate
Call To Worship
Not only did Isaac take Rebekah as his wife according to custom, but he also chose to love her. In a different time, in our land of freedom, we choose our partners in other ways. However, the truths of mutual respect and responsibility still hold today within this freedom.
Collect
"Will you go with this person?" "I will." We delight in the willingness of voluntary responsibility, O God. We applaud those who dare in our difficult social times to give a covenantal relationship a try. We rejoice when two persons so venture and are willing to work out a partnership of ever-deepening commitment. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Are you a matchmaker for us, God? Do you bring us together with our lifemates? When we feel external pressures or sense an interior urgency to grow a lasting relationship, give us the patience to wait, even if it takes longer than we want. We ask for wisdom to listen to and with our whole being. Be with us as part of the voice of inner wisdom we can trust, O God. In Jesus' name. Amen.
44A Hymns1
"God Send Us Men Whose Aim 'Twill Be" Tune: MELROSE OR "Judge Eternal, Throned In Splendor" Tune: RHUDDLAN
"Go, My Children, With My Blessing" Tune: AR HYD Y NOS OR "When Love Is Found" Tune: O WALY WALY
"O God, Beneath Thy Guiding Hand" Tune: DUKE STREET
Proper 9
Sunday between July 3 and July 9 inclusive
Second Lesson: Romans 7:15-25a
Theme: Freedom or License?
Call To Worship
As we enter into an attitude of worship today, let us be mindful of the laws which belong to God, the laws that are made by society, and the rules we ourselves invent when we stretch the gift of freedom too far.
Collect
Gracious God, grant us the honesty to discern which among the rules we live by are ours and which are God's. Grant us the humility to see beyond self-interest. Guide us as we practice the tenacity of stretching past ourselves. In the name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
While we pray together, the prayer of confession is still a personal prayer. Let us, then, confess to God: I do not always understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want and know is right, but I do the very thing I hate. I can will what is right, but I cannot always do it. Forgive me for taking such license with the freedom you have given me, O God. Help me to do better. Amen.
44A Hymns1
"Dear [God, Embracing][Lord And Father] Of [Humankind] [Mankind]" Tune: REST
"What A Friend We Have In Jesus" Tune: ERIE [CONVERSE]
"We Shall Overcome" Tune: WE SHALL OVERCOME
Proper 9
Sunday between July 3 and July 9 inclusive
Gospel: Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
Theme: Come To Me
Call To Worship
"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens," Jesus said, "and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Collect
No matter who we are, dear God, Jesus' invitation to come to him with the weary, burdened part of ourselves brings comfort and rest for our souls. All can come. We are grateful. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Leader: Gracious, Compassionate God, we bring you our weariness and our heavy burdens --
People: Help carry the weight, O God, of those trying to manage chronic health problems.
Leader: Help us carry the heaviness of meeting workloads and time limits without sufficient respite.
People: Help us carry the weight, O God, of raising a family and of being youths in these times.
Leader: Help us bear the burden of grief.
All: We would have your comfort and rest for our souls.
Amen.
44A Hymns
"[O Come To Me, You Weary][The Voice Of God Is Calling]" Tune: MEIRIONYDD OR "We Yearn, O [Christ][Lord], For Wholeness" Tune: PASSION CHORALE
"Stand By Me" Tune: STAND BY ME
"Sing Them Over Again To Me" Tune: WORDS OF LIFE
____________
1. On the remaining Sundays of summer, use the first verse of "Take My Life And Let It Be Consecrated" (Tune: VIENNA) as a closing response.
